Computer audio system

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to an improved audio system and method for a computer system such as a desktop computer or a laptop computer. The improved audio system enables the computer system to output a high quality audio signal that is similar to many dedicated high-end consumer or professional audio components. In other words, the output from the computer systems is as good as the signal output from audio components in a home entertainment system. In one example described below, this is accomplished by providing a component called a sample rate converter to the computer system. The sample rate converter in the example upsamples a standard 16 bit, 44.1 kHz digital audio signal inside the computer system into a 24 bit, 192 kHz enhanced digital audio signal. This signal is as good as, or better than, the signals coming from single function audio component that can cost more than the entire computer system.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An audio system adapted for use within a computer system, the audio system including: 
 an audio source adapted to provide a digital signal having a standard number of bits and a base frequency;    a signal converter operably coupled to the audio source, the signal converter adapted to receive the digital signal and provide an enhanced digital signal wherein the enhanced digital signal includes at least one of a selected number of bits other than the standard number of bits and a selected frequency other than the base frequency; and    wherein the signal converter is adapted to output from the computer system at least one of the enhanced digital signal and an enhanced analog signal based on the enhanced digital signal.    
     
     
         2 . The audio system of  claim 1  wherein the audio source is further adapted to provide an analog audio signal.  
     
     
         3 . The audio system of  claim 1  wherein the signal converter includes an asynchronous sample rate converter.  
     
     
         4 . The audio system of  claim 3  wherein the signal converter further includes a digital transceiver and a digital transmitter, each operably coupled to the asynchronous sample rate converter.  
     
     
         5 . The audio system of  claim 4  wherein the signal converter further includes a digital-to-analog converter operably coupled to the asynchronous sample rate converter, and wherein the digital-to-analog converter receives the enhanced digital signal and provides the enhanced analog signal.  
     
     
         6 . The audio system of  claim 1  wherein the signal converter is adapted to output from the computer system both the enhanced digital signal and the enhanced analog signal.  
     
     
         7 . The audio system of  claim 1  wherein the selected number of bits is greater than the standard number of bits and the selected frequency is greater than the base frequency.  
     
     
         8 . The audio system of  claim 7  wherein the selected number of bits is one and a half times the standard number of bits and the selected frequency is at least twice the base frequency.  
     
     
         9 . The audio system of  claim 1  wherein the standard number of bits is 16 and the selected number of bits is 24; and the base frequency is 44.1 kHz and the selected frequency is 192 kHz.  
     
     
         10 . An audio system adapted for use within a computer system, the audio system including: 
 at least one audio source adapted to provide an analog audio signal and a digital audio signal, wherein the digital audio signal includes a standard number of bits and a base frequency;    a sound card operably coupled to the at least one audio source, the sound card adapted to receive the analog signal and provide an analog audio output from the computer system;    a signal converter operably coupled to the at least one audio source, the signal converter adapted to receive the digital signal and provide an enhanced digital signal wherein the enhanced digital signal includes at least one of a selected number of bits other than the standard number of bits and a selected frequency other than the base frequency; and    wherein the signal converter is adapted to output from the computer system at least one of the enhanced digital signal and an enhanced analog signal based on the enhanced digital signal.    
     
     
         11 . The audio system of  claim 10  wherein the sound card includes an amplifier.  
     
     
         12 . The audio system of  claim 11  wherein the sound card further includes a digital equalizer operably coupled to the amplifier.  
     
     
         13 . An audio system adapted for use with a computer system, the audio system comprising: 
 a plurality of audio signal sources, wherein the audio signal sources are each adapted to at least output a unique digital audio signal;    a selector device adapted to receive each of the unique digital audio signals and output a selected unique digital audio signal;    a signal converter adapted to receive the selected unique digital signal and provide an enhanced digital signal wherein the enhanced digital signal includes at least one of a selected number of bits other than the standard number of bits and a selected frequency other than the base frequency; and    wherein the signal converter is adapted to output from the computer system at least one of the enhanced digital signal and an enhanced analog signal based on the enhanced digital signal.    
     
     
         14 . The audio system of  claim 13  wherein the plurality of audio signal sources includes n signal sources, and the selector device is a switch having n inputs and one output.  
     
     
         15 . The audio system of  claim 13 , and further comprising a controller, wherein the controller operates the selector device to select the unique digital audio signal.  
     
     
         16 . The audio system of  claim 15  wherein the controller further selects the selected number of bits and the selected frequency,  
     
     
         17 . An audio system for use with a computer system, the audio system comprising: 
 a source providing a digital audio signal having 16 bits and a frequency of 44.1 kHz; and    a converter circuit receiving the digital audio signal, the converter circuit including an asynchronous sample rate converter;    wherein the converter circuit is adapted to output the digital audio signal or an enhanced digital audio signal having a frequency selected to be between 96 kHz and 192 kHz.    
     
     
         18 . The audio system of  claim 17  wherein the frequency selected is one of 96 kHz and 192 kHz.  
     
     
         19 . A computer system, comprising: 
 means for generating a digital audio signal having a standard number of bits and a base frequency; and    means for converting the digital audio signal to an enhanced digital audio signal having a selected number of bits greater than the standard number of bits and a selected frequency equal to at least two times the base frequency;    wherein the means for converting selectively outputs from the computer system one of the digital audio signal or the enhanced digital audio signal.    
     
     
         20 . An audio system adapted for use within a computer system, the audio system including: 
 an audio source adapted to provide a digital signal having a standard number of bits and a base frequency;    a signal converter adapted to receive the digital signal and provide an enhanced digital signal;    wherein the enhanced digital signal is at least one of: 
 a selected number of bits that is other than the standard number of bits, and  
 a selected frequency that is other than the base frequency; and  
   wherein the signal converter is adapted to output both the digital signal and the enhanced digital signal.    
     
     
         21 . The audio system of  claim 20  wherein the signal converter is adapted to provide the enhanced digital signal to have a selected number of bits other than the standard number of bits and the selected frequency to be other than the base frequency.  
     
     
         22 . The audio system of  claim 20  wherein only one of the digital signal and the enhanced digital signal are output from the computer system at a time.  
     
     
         23 . A method for providing an enhanced digital audio signal from a computer system, the method comprising: 
 generating a digital signal having a standard number of bits and a base frequency of up to about 48 kHz;    converting the digital signal into an enhanced digital signal having up to 24 bits and a frequency of up to about 192 kHz; and    transmitting from the computer system at least one of the enhanced digital audio signal and an enhanced analog signal based on the enhanced digital signal.    
     
     
         24 . The method of claim wherein generating the digital signal includes providing a plurality of unique digital signals and selecting one of the plurality of digital signals to be the digital signal.  
     
     
         25 . The method of claim wherein the digital signal is a 16 bit, 44.1 kHz signal.  
     
     
         26 . The method of claim wherein the enhanced digital signal is a 24 bit, 192 kHz signal.  
     
     
         27 . A method of providing a digital audio signal 
 generating a digital signal having a standard number of bits and a base frequency; and    selecting an output signal that is one of 
 a digital signal having the standard number of bits and the base frequency, or  
 an enhanced digital signal that is includes a number of bits that is greater than the standard number of bits and a frequency that is greater than the base frequency.